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Is There Something More Important Than Winning?
Me | 10-29-2004 | Patrick McIntyre

Posted on 10/29/2004 5:44:14 AM PDT by eternalperspective

During the Florida debacle of the 2000 election, I found myself wanting candidate Bush to allow the Florida recount just to stop the bleeding and hatred and mistrust. My concern wasn't with placating the political parties - but rather, to prevent Joe six-pack from loosing faith in the election process. I didn't want the common man to becoming as cynical as a lawyer. I reasoned that if there were monitors from both sides, and the votes were counted, if Bush lost, at least he would have stopped the tearing and help diminish distrust and perhaps prevent a legal challenge (revenge) pathology in future elections. After the Supreme Court stopped the process, several news organizations did the counting and found that George Bush was the legitimate winner. But all that bad blood had raised the partisan bar to new heights, and the distrust and revenge pathology is now mainstream Democrat thinking. The age of reason is over - now most of us think like lawyers. Even the conservative talk show hosts I respect purposely slant the news, making ultimate statements, when a nuanced comment would be more illuminating. That's the problem- we're not after the truth - we want to win the election no mater what it costs. I know the argument for hitting hard and fast. (After all- the other guy isn't going to pull any punches) I guess I long for a kindler, gentler age when truth was more than talking points, and civility was more than just good manners.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: honesty; integrety; perserverance; respect; trust
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1 posted on 10/29/2004 5:44:16 AM PDT by eternalperspective
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To: eternalperspective

" I guess I long for a kindler, gentler age when truth was more than talking points, and civility was more than just good manners."

The campaigns of the past were far more acrimonious. Take heart though. America even managed to hold elections during the worst time of our history: The Civil War.


2 posted on 10/29/2004 5:47:42 AM PDT by OpusatFR (Let me repeat this: the web means never having to swill leftist garbage again. Got it?)
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To: eternalperspective
There is a time for nuance and non-partisanship.

This is not that time.

3 posted on 10/29/2004 5:48:00 AM PDT by TonyInOhio (Never give in. Never give in. Never. Never. Never.)
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To: eternalperspective

Let me guess, George Bush is a divider because he won't do as democrats tell him to do.


4 posted on 10/29/2004 5:48:25 AM PDT by cripplecreek (We've turned the corner and we're not smokin crack.)
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To: eternalperspective
Is There Something More Important Than Winning?

No.

5 posted on 10/29/2004 5:48:27 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: eternalperspective

Let's look at this from the opposite perspective. Al Gore could have stopped this and not been the sore loser he has become. If Al Gore would have accepted the results just like Richard Nixon did in 1960 everything would have been fine. It was Gore who caused this mess not President Bush. Stop blaming President Bush he won by the rules it was the RATS sho couldn't accept it.


6 posted on 10/29/2004 5:50:17 AM PDT by Moconservative
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To: eternalperspective

I find it amusing that one candidate is denigrated for doing anything he can to get elected, so that he can do what he thinks is necessary to fight terrorism, while the other candidate is praised for doing whatever he thinks is necessary to fight terrorism.....


7 posted on 10/29/2004 5:50:32 AM PDT by stuartcr (Neither - Nor in '04....Who ya gonna hate in '08)
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To: eternalperspective

Kumbaya, vanity posting newbie. Welcome to FR but please read the posting guidelines.


8 posted on 10/29/2004 5:50:35 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: eternalperspective

"Is There Something More Important Than Winning?"

Protecting our rights by preventing the Dems from cheating again.


9 posted on 10/29/2004 5:51:00 AM PDT by Fenris6 (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months w/o missing a day of work? He's either John Rambo or a Fraud)
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To: Moconservative

You are so right! What kind of man conceeds then calls to take it back?


10 posted on 10/29/2004 5:51:33 AM PDT by Tensgrrl
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To: OpusatFR
The campaigns of the past were far more acrimonious.

Amen! Most don't realize that because they don't read history. But, you are absolutely correct. Most complain about the negativity of recent elections. But, we've had some rhetoric in the past that makes this election pale by comparison.

11 posted on 10/29/2004 5:53:07 AM PDT by Types_with_Fist (I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)
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To: eternalperspective

What you're really contemplating is unilateral disarmament, by Republicans in the face of Democrats...they are not interested in compromise and comity. They want to accomplish in the courts what the cannot accomplish at the polls.



This isn't about 'winning' the election, this is about 'winning' a battle in defense of the Constitution. Imagine the Justices Kerry would appoint and you will understand the need to form hedgehogs and fight this battle to the last man, if that is what it takes.


12 posted on 10/29/2004 5:53:14 AM PDT by Petronski (A Monday morning quarterback has never led any team to victory.)
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To: eternalperspective

"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." - Vince Lombardi


13 posted on 10/29/2004 5:53:18 AM PDT by quantim (Victory is not relative, it is absolute.)
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To: eternalperspective
I found myself wanting candidate Bush to allow the Forida recount just to stop the bleeding, hatred, and mistrust.


Pres. Bush allowed the votes to be counted several times in different counties. The problem was the Dems weren't going to stop until somehow they could make Algore come out on top...


it never happened.


...strange choice of words you use to describe our President.
14 posted on 10/29/2004 5:53:33 AM PDT by dagoofyfoot
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To: eternalperspective

nothing more important than winning. it goes without saying that it must be done the right way.


15 posted on 10/29/2004 5:55:24 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (do not remove this tag under penalty of law.)
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To: eternalperspective
I guess I long for a kindler, gentler age... "kindler" or "kinder"? Because "kindler" means to set a fire to.
16 posted on 10/29/2004 5:56:07 AM PDT by no dems (NICE GUYS FINISH LAST. GET RADICAL !!!)
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To: Petronski

Excellent response. Thank you.


17 posted on 10/29/2004 5:56:08 AM PDT by eternalperspective (Here's my take on the question you raise)
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To: eternalperspective

No! Why do you think algorejr sent for mayor Dayly et al from Chicago, right away?


18 posted on 10/29/2004 5:56:30 AM PDT by Waco
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To: eternalperspective
I guess I long for a kindler, gentler age when truth was more than talking points, and civility was more than just good manners.

Where you can sip sherry, listen to Garrison Keeler, and hope they put the shackles on you last.

19 posted on 10/29/2004 5:57:35 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (I want to have fanatical henchmen when I grow up.)
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To: dagoofyfoot

I am Bush supporter. He was a candidate at the time.


20 posted on 10/29/2004 5:58:31 AM PDT by eternalperspective (Here's my take on the question you raise)
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